Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Egg Harbor City Man Indicted for Murder in Connection with Fatal Shooting in Galloway

MAYS LANDING– An Egg Harbor City man was indicted for murder today in connection with the fatal shooting of a Bergen County man in Galloway in 2010, Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain announced.

Rafael J. Olmo, 31, of the 400 block Philadelphia Ave, Egg Harbor City, was indicted by an Atlantic County Grand Jury this afternoon for murder and related charges for the 2010 shooting death in Galloway Twp. of Leandro A. Rodriguez, 36, of Hackensack, NJ.

On the afternoon of December 2, 2010, Galloway Township police responded to the report of a dead body discovered in the backyard of an unoccupied residence on the 500 block of South Berlin Avenue in Galloway Township, an apparent victim of gunshot wounds.

The victim was subsequently identified as Rodriguez, and the autopsy performed the next day determined that the death was a homicide, caused by two gunshots to the face.

A 2 1⁄2 year investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Galloway Township Police Department resulted in the authorization of charges on July 12, 2012 by County Prosecutor Jim McClain for murder and weapons offenses.

Olmo—who is currently in federal custody on another matter—was indicted today on five (5) criminal counts:

Murder, a crime of the 1st degree,

Felony Murder—1st degree,

Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purposes—2nd degree,

Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, without a permit to carry—2nd degree, and

Possession of a Weapon by a Convicted Person—a 2nd degree crime.

A conviction for murder carries a potential penalty of incarceration in New Jersey State prison for 30 years to life. The potential penalty for a 2nd degree conviction is 5 to 10 years of imprisonment.

Chief Assistant Prosecutor John Maher represents the State in the case.

These charges are an accusation and not proof of guilt. In all criminal cases, a charged defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page. People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County.